ABMDI BOARD
CERTIFICATION 2026 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
A body is found in the hallway in a house fire. There is
extensive fire damage to the living room, which contains the
remains of burned upholstered furniture, as well as a television,
stereo, and computer. An autopsy reveals no trauma other than
burn artifact. Toxicology testing reveals carbon monoxide and
hydrogen cyanide in the blood. You
A. tell the family the decedent committed suicide by ingesting
cyanide.
B. notify law enforcement that someone poisoned the decedent
and set the fire to cover up the death.
C. explain to the family and law enforcement officers that these
are expected findings in light of the objects burned in the fire.
D. notify your HAZMAT team that there is a container of
cyanide in the home.
E. tell the family you cannot determine the source of the
cyanide. - correct answer-explain to the family and law
enforcement officers that these are expected findings in light of
the objects burned in the fire.
,Examination of a skin wound reveals torn, irregular edges and
stretched small vessels and nerves in the depths of the wound.
This injury is best described as a (an) - correct answer-
Laceration
Documentation of bloodstain patterns at a death scene would
NOT include
A. samples of bloodstains.
B. photographs of bloodstains.
C. sketches of bloodstain patterns to show directionality.
D. descriptions of bloodstain characteristics (i.e., color and
consistency).
E. measurement of bloodstain patterns. - correct answer-
Sample of bloodstains
Restraining devices and safety equipment of a vehicle involved
in a crash should be documented because
A. they can be removed from the crash vehicle and reinstalled
in another automobile.
B. documentation of safety equipment in a vehicle involved in a
crash is required by state law.
C. failure of occupants to use vehicle safety devices, or the
malfunction of the devices may determine how injuries
occurred.
,D. seat belts and air bags are a potential hazard and should be
outlawed.
E. investigators should keep a record of safety equipment as
well as vehicle make and model to establish a data base of
unsafe vehicles. - correct answer-failure of occupants to use
vehicle safety devices, or the malfunction of the devices may
determine how injuries occurred.
Physical findings most often seen in shaken impact syndrome
includes ALL of the following characteristics EXCEPT which
ONE?
A. Torn frenulum
B. Brain swelling
C. Subdural hematoma
D. Retinal hemorrhages
E. Diffuse axonal injury - correct answer-Torn frenulum
An interview with a decedent's family revealed that he had
received methadone treatment in the past. This type of
treatment may indicate a history of
A. opiate abuse.
B. alcoholism.
C. paranoid schizophrenia.
D. AIDS.
, E. tranquilizer abuse. - correct answer-opiate abuse
Death due to seizures 48 hours after incarceration would most
likely be due to
A. food allergy.
B. beaten during arrest.
C. brain tumor.
D. alcohol withdrawal.
E. infection. - correct answer-alcohol withdrawal.
An overdose of which ONE of the following drugs most
frequently results in hyperthermia.
A. Barbiturates
B. Heroin
C. Marijuana
D. Valium (Diazepam)
E. Cocaine - correct answer-Cocaine
mechanical, inert-gas, environmental, and pathological - correct
answer-The four primary classifications of asphyxial deaths
CERTIFICATION 2026 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
A body is found in the hallway in a house fire. There is
extensive fire damage to the living room, which contains the
remains of burned upholstered furniture, as well as a television,
stereo, and computer. An autopsy reveals no trauma other than
burn artifact. Toxicology testing reveals carbon monoxide and
hydrogen cyanide in the blood. You
A. tell the family the decedent committed suicide by ingesting
cyanide.
B. notify law enforcement that someone poisoned the decedent
and set the fire to cover up the death.
C. explain to the family and law enforcement officers that these
are expected findings in light of the objects burned in the fire.
D. notify your HAZMAT team that there is a container of
cyanide in the home.
E. tell the family you cannot determine the source of the
cyanide. - correct answer-explain to the family and law
enforcement officers that these are expected findings in light of
the objects burned in the fire.
,Examination of a skin wound reveals torn, irregular edges and
stretched small vessels and nerves in the depths of the wound.
This injury is best described as a (an) - correct answer-
Laceration
Documentation of bloodstain patterns at a death scene would
NOT include
A. samples of bloodstains.
B. photographs of bloodstains.
C. sketches of bloodstain patterns to show directionality.
D. descriptions of bloodstain characteristics (i.e., color and
consistency).
E. measurement of bloodstain patterns. - correct answer-
Sample of bloodstains
Restraining devices and safety equipment of a vehicle involved
in a crash should be documented because
A. they can be removed from the crash vehicle and reinstalled
in another automobile.
B. documentation of safety equipment in a vehicle involved in a
crash is required by state law.
C. failure of occupants to use vehicle safety devices, or the
malfunction of the devices may determine how injuries
occurred.
,D. seat belts and air bags are a potential hazard and should be
outlawed.
E. investigators should keep a record of safety equipment as
well as vehicle make and model to establish a data base of
unsafe vehicles. - correct answer-failure of occupants to use
vehicle safety devices, or the malfunction of the devices may
determine how injuries occurred.
Physical findings most often seen in shaken impact syndrome
includes ALL of the following characteristics EXCEPT which
ONE?
A. Torn frenulum
B. Brain swelling
C. Subdural hematoma
D. Retinal hemorrhages
E. Diffuse axonal injury - correct answer-Torn frenulum
An interview with a decedent's family revealed that he had
received methadone treatment in the past. This type of
treatment may indicate a history of
A. opiate abuse.
B. alcoholism.
C. paranoid schizophrenia.
D. AIDS.
, E. tranquilizer abuse. - correct answer-opiate abuse
Death due to seizures 48 hours after incarceration would most
likely be due to
A. food allergy.
B. beaten during arrest.
C. brain tumor.
D. alcohol withdrawal.
E. infection. - correct answer-alcohol withdrawal.
An overdose of which ONE of the following drugs most
frequently results in hyperthermia.
A. Barbiturates
B. Heroin
C. Marijuana
D. Valium (Diazepam)
E. Cocaine - correct answer-Cocaine
mechanical, inert-gas, environmental, and pathological - correct
answer-The four primary classifications of asphyxial deaths
